Safety device



March 9, 1943. F; RECHB'ERGER 2,313,172

SAFETY DEVICE Filed March 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FRED e. RE HBERGER;

March '9, 1943.

SAFETY DEVICE Filed March 19, L940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 I INVENTOR. BYFRED e. RECHBERGER.

. Pam! A. ,1

ATTORNEYL F. s. RECHBERGER} 2,313,172

F. G. RECHBERGER SAFETY DEVICE March 9, 1943.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1940 INVENTOR ERED (5. RECHBERGER.

Paul ATM.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE Fred G. Rechberger, Rego Park, Long Island N. Y.

Application March 19, 1940, Serial No. 324,773

13 Claims.

My invention relates to a, device for safely gaining admission to parked elevators and other conveyances, and more particularly to a device to prevent accidents due to persons walking into or looking into elevator shafts, and has among its purposes and objects to provide:

A door opening device for elevator shaft doors which will operate only when the elevator is positioned at the shaft door so that it may be opened.

A door unlocking device for vehicles, runways and shafts in which the vehicle must be in position to allow the door to the runway to be opened.

A safety device for doors to runways.

A key for doors to runways, elevator shafts and the like, the operation of which is dependent on and affected by the position of the conveyance traveling therein.

A safety device for shaft-way doors.

I accomplish these and other objects by the construction herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which:

Fig. 1 is a section at ll Fig. 2 of the door lock with the key in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a section at 2-2 Fig. l. 1

Fig. 3 is a partial section and elevation of the key.

Fig. 4 is a section at 4-4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section at 5-5 Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail of a modification of the key.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of a master key.

Fig. 8 is a section at 8-8 Fig.6,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail of the key.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View showing the operation of my device.

Fig. 11 is a detail of the door locking lever.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and in the specifications to follow.

Accidents and deaths are common to persons opening the door to elevator shafts and walking into the shaft at a time when the elevator is not at or near the door, or by looking up or down the shaft through the open shaft door and then being struck by the passing elevator.

My device is not only useful in preventing such accidents common to elevator shafts, but may also be used for doors for other types of runways where a train, car or other conveyance may be difiicult to see as it approaches the entrance door or gate.

It may be likewise used in the door of the conveyance when it may be desirable to prevent its opening only when it isin a safe position and its opening then desirable.

I have herein disclosed andillustrated in detail only some of the numerous constructions which embody the principles underlying my inend 3 of the plunger;

vention. It is believed after a study of this disclosure by those skilled in the art to which it pertains that modifications will be apparent to suit my invention to the many uses to which it is adapted. For instance, I have herein shown how a door having an operating lever lying in substantially a horizontal position, such as is common to many types of doors for elevator shafts, is moved to permit the door to be opened, and I am aware that many other types of levers are used which lie in a vertical or other positionand also that doors for similar purpose are not opened by levers at all. Latch bars, bolts and other looking and operating devices are used to unlock or affect the movements of doors and can be readily adapted to movement by modifications of a part of my device to suit such door unlocking and opening devices.

The eccentric may be positioned at any desired angle tothe position herein shown or it may be replaced by a lever or other device best suited to effect the opening of the door.

The key I is provided with a yielding end plunger 2, the end 3 of which is forced against the conveyance 4 which may be an elevator, lift, train, car, or-other moving means of transport which travels in a shaft, well, or on a runway or track 5 having an entrance gate or door 6 through which the key I is forced to pass.

The plunger 2 is forced to extend outwardly beyond the end I of the key by the spring 8 and the operator 9 of the key is moved and extended radially by forcing the end 3 againstthe conveyance which overcomes the spring 8. The operator 9 and the plunger which moves it are not moved or afiected'unless the conveyance is positioned at or near the door which is to be opened and thereby in the way of and. thus contacted by the end 3 of the plunger Zcausing the plunger to be forced back into the key and thus moving the operator outwardly into the slot or key way in of the sleeve l l which is rotatably mounted in the housing I2 secured to the door 6. The rotating sleeve II is secured to the door unlocking arm, lever, or eccentric l3 which, when rotated by the sleeve and key which moves it, permits the door to be opened and thus access may be made to the conveyance and passengers may enter.

The turning of the key I with the operator in its normal retracted position does not'move the eccentric l3 as the operator'doesnot engage the slot or key .way unless the plunger is pressed against the conveyance. Thus," the key remains inoperative unless the conveyance contacts the The sleeve l I and eccentric [3 may be operated to revolve in one direction by the torsional spring [4 which holds the eccentric in its normal ,position -against the stop l5 secured to the housing llor other stationary part of the door. The

housing may be detachably secured to the door or to the key hole piece or bezel l6 into which the key is thrust from the outside H of the door. The end [8 of the piece [6 extends to the outside as may be seen by referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings which shows the plunger in a contracted position and the key operator in its operative or extended position.

Referring to Fig. 3, the operator 9 is shown as swingingly mounted on the spring arm l9 which may yield to the pressure of the stop end 20 which normally forces the operator out into the position shown in broken lines but only when the slot or key way in is in position to receive it. The operator may remain in its retracted normal position even though the plunger has been moved into the key by contacting the elevator or conveyance and will spring into the key way when the key has been turned to bring the operator in register with the key way.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the action of the operator 9' is positive and the key I cannot be forced to the end of its travel until the operator is turned to and extends into the keyway. The operator is retracted to its normal position by the spring [9' as well as the inclined surface 29 of the plunger 2, the inclined surface 2| of which, forces the operator outwardly into the key way. The spring 8 extends the plunger 2'.

Fig. 9 shows a fragmentary detail of a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 6 in which the plunger 2 is slidably movable inwardly against the spring 8" positioned to engage the inner end of said plunger 2" and also the end 24 of the inner plunger 25 which is provided with the inclined surface 26 which forces the operator 2'! outwardly into the keyway or slot ID. The plunger is moved outwardly against the spring 8" and plunger 2" forcing all of the parts to their normal extended position by the spring 28 which is of less strength than the spring 8" and is easily overcome by it.

The differences in the strength of the springs 8" and 28 permits the plunger to be forced inwardly when forced against the elevator or conveyance and without forcing the operator outwardly until the operator is turned in position to engage the keyway or slot H). The effect and operation of the constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 9 is much the same and both have the advantage over the construction shown in Fig. 6 in that they do not jam the operator tightly against'the bore of the sleeve l I while the key is being turned to the position where the operator may enter the keyway or slot l0.

Fig. 7 shows a detail of the end of the master key 22 which will permit the door to be opened without regard to the position of the elevator or conveyance. While the master key forms no part of my invention, its use in emergencies is desirable and this description is made to complete the understanding of one operation of parts of my device under unusual circumstances. The spring supported operator 23 is extended and at all times ready to engage the key way of the sleeve and thus open the door. This key is to be kept in a case with a glass door'which must be broken to obtain the master key and is used.

in emergency and in case of fires and not in the daily use by operators, mechanics and others in the routine of their services.

In Fig. 10, the operation of my device may be seen as applied to a conveyance or elevator car- 4 which may be of conventional construction and suitable to travel in the ordinary elevator shaft 29 or other suitable runway.

In Fig. 11, I have shown one of the many door operating levers 30 which normally are at rest in a horizontal position as shown by full lines and, when in this position, due to the link 34 being in line with the direction of door movement, the door 6 cannot be opened. A downward movement of the end 35 of said lever permits the door to be opened. To cause this movement, the eccentric I3 is turned by the key I. The operation of the key to turn the eccentric can only be done at a time when the car or conveyance is in position to permit the end 3 of the key to be forced against the conveyance as hereinbefore described.

The door 6 is forced by the spring 36 to its closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 11. The open position of the parts is shown in broken lines. The center 3| may be a stud swingingly securing the lever 30 to the door 6. The center 32 at the opposite end of the lever 30 from the end 35 may be a pin movably securing said lever to the one end 31 of a swinging link 34 which is swingingly mounted at the center 33 by a suitable pin and to the bracket 38 secured to the shaft way 29. The bracket 38 also serves to swingingly secure one end of the spring 36 which is secured at its other end to the chain 39 and to the bell crank 4i! formed integral to the lever 30 and so positioned as to cause the spring to extend under tension when the lever 30 is moved downwardly in opening the door 6 thereby resisting its movement and causing the door to close when released. The movement of the end 35 of said lever 30 or the operation of the door by hand or air or by an electric motor not shown may serve to move .the door 6 to its open position.

I have shown and described herein one complete operating unit as related to the parts which cooperate in rendering a' door or its equivalent for runways, such as an elevator shaft, inoperative except with a key which may open the door only when the car is at the door. Doors, gates and the like of horizontal and inclined railways, runways, etc., at stations also may be likewise operated and particularly to crowded subway stations where doors or gates may be installed to prevent persons from falling or gaining access to the tracks.

I have not attempted to show all manner of door locks and door operating devices, as it is obvious that the eccentric i3-may be replaced by a lever, segmental rack, sprocket or gear to adapt my key and the parts moved by it and affecting its operation to the opening of any type.

In the appended claims which set forth my invention, the terms used to define the elements which are combined to produce a result are intended as bro-ad terms which contemplate mechanical equivalents of the parts shown in the drawings and herein described. I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction illustrated and described herein with a view of showing how a typical adaptation is accomplished. The details of construction may vary in many ways without departing from the principles underlying my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an elevator shaftway door and key for permitting its operation, means secured to the door to receive the key and a revolvable sleeve having a keyway, said sleeve mounted in said means, said sleevehaying door unlocking means secured thereto, said key having a movable operatorengagin'g said .keyway when extended and movable independent of said sleeve when retracted.

2. In an elevator sliafting door and key for permitting its operation, means secured to the door to receive the key and a revolvable sleeve having a keyway, said sleeve mounted in said means, said sleeve having door unlocking means secured thereto, said key having a movable operator engaging said keyway when extended and movable independent of said sleeve when retracted and a slidable plunger in the end of said key movable into said key to extend said operator.

3. In an elevator shaftway door and key for permitting its operation, means secured to the door to receive the key and a revolvable sleeve having a keyway, said sleeve mounted in said means, said sleeve having door unlocking means secured thereto, said key having a movable operator engaging said keyway when extended and movable independent of said sleeve when retracted and a slidable plunger in the end of said key movable into said key to extend said operator and means in said key extending said plunger and retracting said operator.

4. In an elevator shaftway door and key for permitting its operation, means secured to the door to receive the key and a revolvable sleeve having a keyway, said sleeve mounted in said means, said sleeve having door unlocking means secured thereto, said key having a movable operator engaging said keyway when extended and movable independent of said sleeve when retracted and a slidable plunger in the end of said key movable into said key to extend said operator and means in said key extending said plunger and retracting said operator and means limiting the extension of said plunger.

5. In a safety key for a movable conveyance door, an operator movable into and out of the side of the key and a plunger slidable at the end of the key and adapted to move said operator out of the side of the key when said plunger is moved into said key by pressure contact with said conveyance whereby said door may be opened when said plunger is pressed against said conveyance.

6. In a safety key for a movable conveyance door, an operator movable into and out of the side of the key and a plunger slidable at the end of the key and adapted to move said operator out of the side of the key when said plunger is moved into said key door operating means having a keyway engaging said operator, and spring means extending said operator to engage said keyway when said plunger is pressed against said conveyance and said operator is turned to engage said keyway whereby said plunger may be pressed inwardly by said conveyance and said operator withheld from outward movement until turned to coincide with said keyway.

7. In a safety device for doors of runways of moving conveyances, a key normally inoperative unless pressed against the conveyance, a shaftway door and locking means therefore mounted on said door adapted to be unlocked by said key, a sleeve rotated by said key and rotatably mounted in said door and means carried by said sleeve engaging said door locking means to unlock said door by rotating said key and said sleeve.

8. In a safety device for doors of runways of moving conveyances, a key normally inoperative unless pressed against the conveyance, a shaft way door and locking means therefore mounted on said door adapted to be unlocked by said key,

a sleeve rotated by said key and rotatably mounted in said door and means carried by said sleeve engaging said door locking means to unlock said door by rotating said key and said sleeve and means mounted on said door preventing the rotation of said sleeve unless said key is pressed against said conveyance.

9. In a safety device for doors of runways of moving conveyances, a key normally inoperative unless pressed against the conveyance, a shaft way door and locking means therefore mounted on said door adapted to be unlocked by said key, a sleeve rotated by said key and rotatably mounted in said door and means carried by said sleeve engaging said door locking means to unlock said door by rotating said key and said sleeve'and a keyway in said sleeve and an operator engaging said keyway, said operator being extended into said keyway by pressing said key against said conveyance.

10. In a safety device for doors of runways of moving conveyances, a key normally inoperative unless pressed against the conveyance, a shaft way door and locking means therefore mounted on said door adapted to be unlocked by said key, a sleeve rotated by said key and rotatably mounted in said door and means carried by said sleeve engaging said door locking means to unlock said door by rotating said key and said sleeve, an operator in said key releasable to rotate said sleeve when said key is pressed against said conveyance.

11. In a key for a movable conveyance runway door, an operator movable into and out of the side of the key and a plunger slidable at the end of the key and adapted to move said operator out of the side of the key when said plunger is moved into said key by pressure contact with said conveyance whereby said door may be opened when said plunger is pressed against said conveyance and means including a free opening through the door to permit the inward movement of the key to its operative position and to permit the key to rotate out of engagement with the door unlocking means when said conveyance is not at rest adjacent said door.

12. In a key for a movable conveyance runway door, an operator movable into and out of the side of the key and a plunger slidable at the end of the key and adapted to move said operator out of the side of the key when said plunger is moved into said key by pressure contact with said conveyance whereby said door may be opened when said plunger is pressed against said conveyance and means including a free opening through the door to permit the inward movement of the key to its operative position and to permit the key to rotate out of engagement with the door unlocking means and means permitting said key to rotate to a point of engagement with said door unlocking means.

13. In a key for a movable conveyance runway door, an operator movable into and out of the side of the key and a plunger slidable at the end of the key and adapted to move said operator out of the side of the key when said plunger is moved into said key by pressure contact with said conveyance whereby said door may be opened when said plunger is pressed against said conveyance and means comprising a spring to yieldingly force said operator outwardly when rotated to the position of engagement with said door unlocking means.

FRED G. RECHBERGER. 

